On Fire in Hawaii

BYU head coach Gordon Eakin and the Cougars defeated 8-0 on Wednesday in Honolulu (Photo by Jaren Wilkey/BYU Photo)

HONOLULU -- The BYU softball team came out hot in its first two games at the Hawaii Spring Fling Classic, beating Iona and Cleveland State by identical 8-0 scores on Wednesday.

In BYU's first game against Iona, all nine starters reached base at least once and eight Cougars had one or more hits, led by senior Kristin Delahoussaye's three singles.

Senior pitcher Paige Affleck went the distance for the shutout, allowing four hits and collecting five strikeouts to improve her record to 6-9.

BYU scored at least one run in five innings and could have added more to its final total, but left runners on base every inning.

Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases early in the first inning before another walk drawn by freshman Katie Manuma scored BYU's initial run.

Junior Delaney Willard and senior Jessica Fitu each hit RBI-doubles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, as BYU took a 3-0 lead after four.

The Cougars tacked up multiple runs in the fifth. Junior Krista Hicks singled right back at the Gael pitcher to bring in Lacey Millett at third base. Delahoussaye matched Hicks as the ensuing batter, bringing home Willard.

Iona came nearest to scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out, but Affleck struck out the last out of inning.

Singles by Delahoussaye and Dugas and an error by Iona again put three runners on for the Cougars, setting up a single by Fitu that scored two runs. Freshman JC Clayton scored from third a batter later on a ground out by senior Caschjen Atagi.

Dugas added two hits and a game-high three runs for BYU while Willard had two walks, one hit, one run and one RBI.

Game 2

BYU’s torrential hitting and shutout pitching continued in the Cougars’ second game of the day, an 8-0 win over Cleveland State behind seven hits, including two home runs.

The Cougar lineup picked up where it left off against Iona while getting added help from freshman Carly Duckworth who entered the starting lineup for the first time since Mar. 4 against Fresno State. Duckworth responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second and added an RBI-single in the third as part of a four-run inning. Duckworth finished the day 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run.

Fitu added a 2-for-3 day with two runs and an RBI, including the senior’s sixth home run of the year.

From the circle, freshman pitcher Tori Almond continued her impressive run of innings, pitching a complete game, two-hit shutout. Almond has pitched 14 scoreless innings and drawn 20 strikeouts in the last three games, including last week’s victories over Long Beach State and then-No. 9 UCLA.

After Duckworth’s home run gave BYU a 2-0 lead, the Cougars scored four runs in the third. Junior Stacie Graham led off the third with a single, then stole second. After Delahoussaye walked, the two runners scored on a throwing error by the Cleveland State catcher.

Dugas scored the third run of the inning on a Clayton steal attempt, and Willard finished up the scoring on Duckworth’s single.

Needing one more run to end the game early in the bottom of the fifth after Fitu’s solo homer, freshman Jenna Engel drew a walk. In the final at bat of the game, freshman Madisen Robb put the ball in play. Two fielding errors by the Vikings enabled Engel to round the bases and score the game-ending run.